Photo by Susan C. Moeller

LYNDHURST (Nov. 19, 2009) — The Naked Cowboy, most famous for his sidewalk appearances in Times Square, is also a regular at VIP Fitness Studio in Lyndhurst.

On a recent morning, Robert Burck geared up for his workout by hanging upside down from a chin-up bar in the middle of the room — this time dressed in shorts and a tank top, without his trademark hat, boots and guitar.

Later, he slipped out of the shorts to reveal his much-photographed Fruit of the Looms and shoot a video advertisement for the gym — an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence for the other patrons of the gym.

“I was born doing this,” Burck said of his life as the Naked Cowboy. “Then, they put clothes on me.”

Burck’s “official” start came in Venice Beach Calif., where he performed one day in his clothes and was “completely ignored.”At the suggestion of a photographer, he tried it the next day in his underwear. The difference was startling — he got noticed and made money.

Now, he’s a tourist attraction in Time Square, and a one-man global brand. But, he’s still not too busy to work out.